Chapter Three
When she emerged on the other side of the Crystal Mountains, Rainbow Dash quickened her pace and flapped her wings to gain altitude.
Changing direction she headed towards her home which was nestled in the north-west corner of Cloudsdale.
When she touched down outside her house, the rainbow-maned pegasus opened her door and trotted up the stairs towards her bedroom.
Opening her closet, she took out her dress that Rarity had made for her, and zipped it into a suit carrier.
Slinging it over her back, she left her house and launched herself into the air. She knew she had to be careful not to let the dress slip and fall.
When she got back to the Crystal Castle, the guards opened the gates for her to get through. She nodded at them as she passed.
Making her way back up the stairs, she saw that Pinkie was already in her dress and ready.
"Shall we go?"
"Wait a moment, Pinkie. Let me get ready first."
"Okie dokie lokie!"
She passed Rainbow on the stairs and trotted into the main hall, where she waited patiently for her friend to put her dress on.
Minutes later, Rainbow Dash appeared at the top of the spiral staircase dressed in the rainbow-coloured masterpiece that Rarity had made for her.
Making her way down the stairs, she turned to Pinkie and said, "Shall we go?"
Pinkie nodded and was about to follow her friend when she realised that Flurry Heart was still in the castle.
Pausing, she called to Rainbow, and the cyan mare stopped in her tracks, turning to face her friend.
Rainbow trotted over to where her friend was standing on the steps of the castle, and asked "What's wrong, Pinkie?"
"What about Flurry Heart?"
Pausing to think about the problem, Rainbow said "Maybe we can ask Twilight to come over and watch her."
Pinkie nodded. "That's a good idea. I'll give her a call."
The pink earth pony trotted over to the phone on the table and picked up the receiver and dialed the number for Twilight's house.
Upon hearing the alicorn's voice on the other end, Pinkie said "Hey Twi. Me and Dashie are going to visit Rarity in Canterlot, but we haven't got anyone to take care of Flurry Heart whilst we're gone."
"That's all right Pinkie. I'll come and look after her for you whilst you're away." replied the purple alicorn.
"Really? Thanks Twi!"
"No problem Pinkie. I'll be there as soon as I can."
The receiver went dead, and a flash of light appeared in the centre of the room. When the light faded, Twilight was stood on the rug, and she trotted over to her friends.
Putting the phone back into its cradle, Pinkie turned to Twilight and greeted her, before saying "Flurry Heart should be asleep. Are you sure you don't mind doing this for us?"
Twilight nodded. "It's fine."
"Thanks Twilight." Pinkie turned to Rainbow Dash and repeated what Rainbow had said to her. "Shall we go?"
Rainbow nodded, and followed Pinkie out to the front of the castle, where they found a coach waiting for them.
Confused, the two mares looked at the guards, and upon seeing their puzzled looks, one of the armour-clad stallions stepped forwards and said,
"We overheard your conversation, and we thought you could use some help getting to Canterlot."
"Thank you! That's so nice of you!"
"It's nothing. Any friend of the princess is a friend of ours."
The two mares climbed into the carriage and the guards pulling it reared on their hind legs and took off towards Canterlot.
Rainbow and Pinkie sat in the carriage listening to the rumble of the wheels on the cobbled stones.
Turning to her friend, the rainbow-maned pegasus said, "I'm really looking forward to seeing Rarity after so long."
"I know," replied the pink earth pony. "It feels like it's been forever."
After what seemed like a lifetime, the coach pulled up at the gates to Canterlot Castle, and the two mares got out of the carriage, thanking the stallions and watching as they disappeared round the corner.
Rainbow and Pinkie walked through the cobbled streets until they stopped outside outside a restaurant called La Soleil.
The two ponies could see through the window of the restaurant, and in the corner they could see their friend sitting in the corner with her head in her hooves.
When she saw them, her face lit up, and she leapt up from her seat and cantered excitedly to the entrance to meet them.
"Oh, darlings!" she gushed. "It's been so long!"
The ivory-coloured unicorn ushered her friends into the restaurant and urged them to sit down, which they did, after much persuasion.
"You'll absolutely love the food here," said Rarity, pushing a menu into her friends' hooves.
Rainbow shot a questioning glance at the menu that her friend had shoved into her hooves, casting her eyes over the items of food laid out before her.
"What's buffalo cauliflower?" asked the cyan mare.
"It's cauliflower with buffalo sauce."
Rainbow pulled a face.
"Come now, Dashie. You'll never know unless you try it."
"Yeah, I guess."
"After all, you never liked reading books before, and now you almost never put them down."
"I like reading Daring Do books."
"Yes, of course."
Turning to Pinkie, Rarity said, "Have you decided what to order?"
"Hmm, not yet. How about you?"
"I think I'm going to have the carrot souffle."
Upon hearing the name of the dish, Rainbow's ears perked up, and she said, with renewed enthusiasm,
"That sounds good. I think I'll have that as well."
Rarity smiled and turned to Pinkie, expecting a reply.
"I'm going to have the apple tart."
Nodding, Rarity waved her hoof to attract the attention of a waiter, and a smartly dressed stallion clad in a tuxedo came over to their table holding a pad and pencil.
"May I take your order?"
Rarity looked up from her menu and addressed the stallion.
"Yes we'll have two of the carrot souffles and a piece of apple tart."
The stallion nodded politely.
"Good choice, madam," he said, then left to give their order to the chef.
Turning to her friends, the ivory-coated mare said,
"I told you girls you'd like it here."
But Rainbow Dash wasn't really listening. She was too busy thinking of who her next conquest, or, as she preferred, shame, would involve.
Running through the possible combinations in her mind, Rainbow finally settled on an answer.
Twilight's brother, Shining Armour.
Only problem was, he was married to Cadance.
"Rainbow?"
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, um, nothing."
Pinkie shot a look at Rainbow Dash, and the cyan pegasus looked away, realising that the earth pony knew her secret.
Turning to her friend, the pink earth pony said, "I hope you're not thinking what I think you are."
Rainbow Dash's face burned red with embarrassment. "So what if I am?"
"Shining Armour is married, Dashie," reminded Pinkie. "You can't go after a married stallion."
"Why not?"
"Because you can't, OK?"
Rainbow Dash's face contorted into a scowl. "Fine."
As Pinkie finished talking, the waiter came over with their food and placed it on the table in front of them.
Rarity thanked the waiter as he walked away, and lifted her cup to her lips, taking a delicate sip of the liquid inside.
Noticing Rainbow's face, the ivory mare asked "What's the matter, Dashie?"
"It's nothing."
Lifting her cup to her lips, the cyan mare took a sip of her drink and smirked behind the glass. No way was she going to give up what she had. It was way too good.
